Ukraine Invasion: Indian Judge Votes Against Russia In World Court

New Delhi: The United Nation’s top court ordered Russia to suspend its Ukraine invasion on Wednesday. The court said it was “profoundly concerned” by Moscow’s use of force.

“The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend military operations that it commenced on 24 February on the territory of Ukraine,” presiding judge Joan Donoghue told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) pending the final decision in the case.

“The court is profoundly concerned about the use of force by the Russian Federation which raises very serious issues in international law,” Justice Donoghue told a hearing in The Hague.

Moscow was dragged to the UN’s top court by Kyiv days after Russia’s attack on February 24. India’s judge at the ICJ, Justice Dalveer Bhandari, also voted against Russia in the matter.

Entirely on the support of the government and various missions over a period of time, Justice Bhandari was nominated to the ICJ.

Despite being an independent move based on his interpretation of the Russia-Ukraine issue, Justice Bhandari voting against Russia is different from India’s official position in international fora.

It may be recalled that India has abstained from voting on the Ukraine-Russia issue in the UN. It instead urged both sides to focus on negotiations and end hostilities.

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